In recent years, sexism, fatphobia and racism have increasingly been challenged by the international feminist movement, which has given perpetrators of violence little room to hide from accountability and consequences. This shift has given victims an opportunity to speak out.
Many celebrities have been victims and quite a few of them have dared to tell about their dark experiences in the form of documentaries or books. Reporting from Tatler Asia, here are 4 of them.
1. Britney Spears
Britney Spears/Foto: Instagram.com/britneyspearsfragrances
From being harassed by paparazzi to being hypersexual as a teenager, as well as the role of woman and mother being demonized by the media and public opinion, Britney shares the mental health problems she has experienced over the years.
In her memoir entitled The Woman in Me, Britney also revealed a 14-year conservatorship where she had no autonomy at all over her career, finances and even her own body.
The Woman in Me, released in 2023, highlights the importance of women telling their own stories in their own way. Apart from memoirs, Britney Spears has also released several documentaries entitled Britney VS Spears (2021), Framing Britney Spears (2021), and Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom (2023).
2. Janet Jackson
A row of Hollywood celebrities who dare to speak up about the past through documentaries and books/Photo: Instagram.com/janetjackson
On February 1, 2004, Justin Timberlake ripped part of Janet Jackson's costume during their joint performance at the Super Bowl and exposed her private parts to 143.6 million viewers in what was deemed a wardrobe malfunction.
The incident, which was nicknamed nipplegate, was very embarrassing for Janet and what's more, she received endless slander due to this unfortunate incident.
Subsequently, she was banned from performing at the Grammys that year, blacklisted by MTV, and reportedly lost several acting roles. The unfortunate incident that happened to Janet Jackson was revealed by Janet herself in her biographical documentary entitled Janet Jackson and told the audience what impact she had on her career.
3. Pamela Anderson
A row of Hollywood celebrities who dare to speak up about the past through documentaries and books/Photo: Instagram.com/pamelaanderson
In the documentary Pamela, A Love Story, Pamela reveals how the relentless media hound shaped her life and affected her mental and physical health.
Through personal videos, diary entries, and conversations with those closest to her, Pamela recontextualizes her relationship with the media and opens up about how she survived abuse as a minor.
Additionally, how Pamela's sexualized image constructed by the media influenced the outcome of her trial against Internet Entertainment Group, which owned Pamela's stolen indecent videotape with her then-husband, Tommy Lee, and sold copies online.
4. Paris Hilton
A row of Hollywood celebrities who dare to speak up about the past through documentaries and books/Photo: Instagram.com/parishilton
This is Paris is a 2020 YouTube original documentary that shows another side of Paris Hilton. One of the biggest revelations in the documentary includes her experience of being kidnapped and accidentally sent to a behavioral treatment center for teens deemed problematic and being emotionally, verbally, and physically abused while she was there.
“I buried the truth for so long,” Paris said in an interview with People before the documentary was released. “However, I am proud of myself for being a strong woman. People may think everything in my life is easy, but I want to show the world who I really am.”
These are some of the Hollywood celebrities who dared to reveal the dark side of their past through documentaries and books. Have you watched or read anything, Beauties?
***
Want to be one of the readers who can take part in various exciting events at Beautynesia? Come on, join the Beautynesia reader community, B-Nation. How to REGISTER HERE!
(no/no)